Dakota MCL-3000 User Manual

POWER

GROUND

SENDER

MCL-3000 SERIES OIL TEMP

PART# MCL-3K-TMP

Thank you for purchasing the Dakota Digital MCL-3K-TMP gauge for your Harley Davidson Touring bike.
This gauge is designed to be a direct, plug in replacement for all touring models from 1996 and up. This
is part of a six gauge package for touring models so you can add additional gauges as you choose.

The MCL-3K-TMP gauge comes with a temperature sensor that gets installed in the oil pan. You

must use the supplied sensor, other sensors will result in inaccurate readings.

SWITCH/DIM PLUG

GREEN - Switch +12V
BLUE - Dim +12V

(+12V Key ON)

(Connects to supplied
temp sensor ONLY)

INSTALLATION

First read and familiarize yourself with all of the components and this manual. The first step is to
remove the seat and disconnect the negative side of the battery, as with any electronic install. Once the
battery is disconnected you are ready to start.

REMOVAL OF FACTORY GAUGES

Remove the outer fairing; this will vary from model to model, please follow the service manual to
expose the wiring and gauges. Don’t be alarmed by the amount of wires behind the fairing, this is a
direct plug in kit and these detailed instructions will guide you through it.

Pic of street glide with outer fairing removed Pic of road glide with outer fairing removed

Manual # 650339

All of the small gauges, fuel, volts, oil, and air temp have two plugs. One is for illumination the

POWER

GROUND

SENDER

SWITCH/DIM

other is for the gauge power, ground, and sensor signal. The illumination harness, two pins (orange and
black wires), and will not be reused and can hang freely inside the fairing with the bulb removed, or can
be secured to the other gauge wires to clean things up. The three pin connector from the stock gauge will
be used to connect the new Dakota Digital MCL-3K gauge. Unplug connectors at the back of the gauge,
then remove the two 5/16” nuts holding the clamps onto each small gauge and remove the gauges.

***New nuts for the small gauges are included in the hardware pack DO NOT reuse the stock nuts for the
new gauges; they are not the same thread.

Once the gauge is removed, save the clamp as it will be reused with the new MCL gauge.

Remove the small gauge with 5/16” wrench or nut driver Save Clamp, and reuse for install

INSTALLATION OF NEW MCL-3K-TMP GAUGE

Install the new gauge into the fairing using the original clamp, along with the supplied nuts. Be
sure the alignment tab on the clamp lines up with the notches in the fairing when tightening the clamp
back up.

PLUG

(Connects to supplied

WIRING

(+12V Key ON)

temp sensor ONLY)

The three tab connecter toward the bottom of the back side of the MCL-3K gauge is designed to
plug directly into the stock harness. This will provide the gauge power, ground, and sensor connection. If
the wiring harness plug is not available, wire according to the drawing on next page. Standard ¼” female
spade connectors can be used to make a connection to the gauge.

The second connector toward the top of the back side of the gauge is where the supplied
Switch/Dim harness connects. Both inputs are active high and are “triggered” when there is +12V on
either wire.

BLUE Wire (Dim Input)

The BLUE wire is used for optional night time dimming function. When this wire is held
high, +12V, the gauge will dim to about ½ brightness.

GREEN Wire (Switch Input)

The GREEN wire is used for a switch input for entering setup. This wire can be wired to a
momentary push button switch and the other side of the switch to +12V. The wire can
also be stripped back and touched to +12V to enter setup and then taped off once
complete.

(Wiring diagram on next page)

Manual # 650339

+12V
KEY ON POWER

Switch Input (active high +12V)

GREEN wire

Optional momentary
push button switch

Back View of Gauge

Dim Input (active high +12V)

BLUE wire

Optional toggle
switch

+12V
KEY ON POWER

+12V
KEY ON POWER

Sender Terminal

RED wire

Connection shown with

Connect to main
chassis ground

BLACK wire

TEMP SENSOR
(supplied)

optional spade terminals

If you are installing multiple MCL-3K gauges, you can tie the GREEN wires together and then to
one switch. The same is true for the BLUE wire, wire all of them to one switch.

If you have an MCL-3K Tachometer, it will actually serve as the dimming “switch”. The BLUE
wire on any of the MCL-3K Tachs will provide a +12V output for the dimming function. The gauge has a
light sensor behind the lens and when the ambient light is dim or low it will “turn on” the output and
supply +12V to the BLUE wire. You will not need to wire in a toggle switch if you have an MCL-3K
tachometer and choose to wire it this way.

+12V

+12V
KEY ON POWER

KEY ON POWER

Optional momentary
push button switch

Back View of Gauges

Optional toggle

switch

Switch Input (active high +12V)

GREEN wire

Dim Input (active high +12V)

BLUE wire

Continue wiring to other

MCL-3K gauges

OIL TEMPERATURE SENSOR INSTALLATION

To complete the wiring the new temp sensor must be installed. Since this kit can work on 96 – up
models, an adaptor bushing and O-ring are supplied for older Evolution style engines. Follow the steps
below for your application.

Evolution Engines

The supplied temp sensor will need to be used with the included brass adaptor bushing(1/2”

straight to 3/8 NPT). You will need to use the supplied adaptor and install it in place of the oil

drain plug. The new adaptor and sensor will now be the drain plug and will have to be unplugged

and removed for oil changes. The factory O-ring is used to seal the adaptor to the pan and

should be replaced at each oil change. First install the new O-ring, and thread the sensor into the

adaptor. Once the sensor is tight it should be about flush with the end of the adaptor bushing,

see photos next page.

Manual # 650339